I noticed recently that Michelle Chan is making quite an impact on the chess world. Just sixteen years old, she has already had some excellent results. Consider the following game from a tournament last year.
Michelle Chan - Simon Lazarus
Cambridge International Open 2024
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.Nf3 Qxd5 4.Nc3 Qd8 5.Bc4 Bf5 6.d4 e6 7.Nh4?! This wastes time, and allows Black to equalize. Better was simply 7.0-0 Be7 8.Re1, which is slightly better for White.
7….Bg4 8.Qd3 Bd6?! However, this is not the best. 8….Nc6 is more to the point, as White has to bear in mind Nb4 in various lines. A possible continuation could be 9.h3 Bh5 10.g4 Bg6 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.g5 Nb4 13.Qe2 Nfd5, when Black stands slightly better.
9.h3 Bh5 10.g4 Bg6 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.Bg5 c6 13.0-0-0 White has been allowed to carry out her plan, and now has a decent advantage.
13….Qc7 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Rhe1 Kf8 Unfortunately if the natural 15…0-0, then 16.h4, and White has a strong attack. However, Michelle now executes a very strong piece sacrifice.
16.Bxe6! fxe6 17.Rxe6 Bf4+ 18.Kb1 Qf7 19.Rde1 Nd7 If 19…Be5 instead, then 20.Qc4 b5 21.Qc5+ Kg8 22.Re7 Nd7 23.Qxc6 Qxe7 24.Qxa8+ Kg7 25.Qxa7, with a winning position.
20.Qe4? Michelle falters just as her attack has reached its maximum potential. Instead, 20.Re7 Qxe7 21.Rxe7 Kxe7 22.Qe4+ Kf8 23.Qxf4 Rxh3 24.a4 is winning for White.
20…Be5! 21.d5 cxd5? Black now makes a mistake, and lets White back into the game. Much better was 21…Kg7! 22.f4 Bxc3 23.Re7 Rae8! 24.bxc3 Rxe7 25.Qxe7 cxd5 26.Qd6 Re8, when Black is well on top.
22.Qb4+ Kg8 23.Re7 a5 24.Qa3 Qf8 25.Nxd5 Rh7 26.f4 b5?
Black now makes another mistake and, unlike his biblical equivalent, is not allowed to rise from the dead! The position would have been equal after 26….Rxe7 27.Nxe7+ Kf7 28.fxe5 Nxe5 29.Nd5 Qxa3 30.bxa3 Rd8.
27.fxe5 b4 28.Qb3 Rxe7 29.Nxe7+ Kh7 30.Nxg6! Kxg6 31.Qd3+ Kh6 32.Qxd7 Rd8 33.Qf5 33.Qc6 was also good, as after 33…Kg7 34.Qc7+ Kg8 35.e6 the passed e-pawn is a killer.
33….fxe5 34.Qxf8+?! I suspect time trouble played a part here, as much simpler is 34.Qh5+ Kg7 35.Qxe5+ Qf6 36.Qxa5, when Black’s position is resignable, as he is four pawns down with no compensation. Fortunately, Michelle is still winning, although she has to be careful.
34…Rxf8 35.b3 Re8 36.h4 e4 37.Re3 Kg6 38.c4 Kf6 39.Kc2 Ke5 40.Kd2 Rf8 41.Re2 Rf3 42.Rg2 Kd4 43.g5 Rc3 44.g6 e3+ 45.Kd1 Ke4 46.g7 1-0
A fascinating game! I was impressed with how Michelle was prepared to sacrifice material for the initiative, and also with how she coped after making a mistake. It will be interesting to see how she progresses as she matures as a player.
If you have played any exciting games as a youngster that you would like to have published in my column, please send them to me at plittl@hotmail.com. I cannot promise that they will appear, but I will give them every consideration.